Patent Grant
7101114
This invention relates generally to the field of regulating flood water and more specifically to a system and method for preventing or delaying flooding which may be caused locally by rising water from within the storm water drain system itself.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged with certain features emphasized to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Storm sewers typically comprise underground collector systems which receive surface water through surface level inlets that drain into subsurface receiving chambers that communicate in a lower portion with storm sewer conduits that empty under gravity flow, either directly, or indirectly through a system of typically ever larger collector conduits, to one or more outfalls pouring into open (to the sky) drainage channels or bodies of water. Open drainage channels into which outfalls pour typically include natural and constructed drainage ditches and natural streams, bayous and rivers; bodies of water into which outfalls pour typically include ponds, lakes or bays and constructed water impounds such retainage and holding ponds.
Depending on such non-limiting facts as the slope of a storm sewer system to outfall(s), the fill condition of the storm sewer and rate of exit at the outflow, a hydrostatic pressure head may develop from water in upstream collector conduits that may force water in surcharged downstream collector conduits out inlets of receiving chambers of conduits upstream of the outfall(s), causing or exacerbating sheeting flooding in the areas where the water is expelled.
Sometimes the rise of water retained in a flowing open drainage channel or rising body of water is so great that it submerges the outfall of a storm sewer system emptying into that drainage channel or body of water, that is, the elevation of water in the drainage channel or body of water rises higher than the distal portions of the storm sewer system emptying at the outfall. When this happens the hydrostatic pressure of the open drainage channel or body of water adjacent the outfall is greater than the hydrostatic pressure inside the sewer system at the outlet. This prevents flow from the outfall and surcharges the distal potions of the sewer system, the extent of surcharge up the length of the sewer system depending in part on how much higher the storm waters in the drainage channel or the body of water extend over the outfall. This hydrostatic pressure can pressurize enough of the more distal portions of the sewer system to expel water from inlets of their receiving chambers, causing flooding in the area of the backflow. The same problem can occur in locations where permanent dikes or temporary barriers protect areas inside the dike or barrier from water rising on the outside of the dike or barrier; a higher hydrostatic head of water on the outside of the dike or barrier can backflow water through the storm sewers that are supposed to empty on the outside of the dike or barrier, and the backflow can flood the area inside the dike or barrier.
The present invention provides means for limiting or delaying flooding at locations adjacent storm drains as might be caused by water backfowing from storm drain inlet chambers. Such inlet chambers may be located, for example, along freeways or streets, in residential subdivisions or business parks or medical centers, in yards of houses, in surface parking lots of shopping centers or factories, in athletic stadium field drains, in basement floors of structures such as parking garages with underground levels, in railroad or runway underpasses, or in other locations where sheeting surface water can be captured and flowed away by underground storm sewers. In lower areas or in areas adjacent an outfall or on the protected side of a dike or barrier, water backfowing in the drainage system may become a greater flooding threat than sheeting rain water even after the rain has stopped. Embodiments of the present invention provide means to limit flooding damage from backflowing storm water sewers.
Without limitation by description of potential particular embodiments or their uses or advantages, one possible embodiment provides a warning system to indicate that flooding is imminent whereupon measures can be taken to avoid flood damage where possible. Embodiments of the present invention can operate automatically. In one embodiment, basic operation requires no power, no human operators, and no sensors. Due to simplicity of construction, operation of embodiments of the present invention is highly reliable and is preferably controlled by buoyancy force power produced by rising water itself. As explained hereinafter, in possible embodiments the installed storm system of the present invention can be adjusted in height or position to provide a desired result which may vary from location to location. In yet another possible embodiment of the present invention, the storm system may be used with sensors to electronically send status information on rising waters in sewers as may be desired to operate warnings or closures of streets, highways and freeways, especially where flooding is imminent, thereby preventing pedestrians or motorists from being caught in rising water. Embodiments of the storm system of the present invention may be utilized to prevent or forestall or to warn about dangerous situations and could be utilized as a relatively inexpensive means to warn of, limit, or forestall the high costs of building or vehicular water damage or personal injury. Embodiments of the present invention may be relatively easily installed as a complete system secured to a single frame. Due to simplicity of operation, embodiments of the system may be relatively easily viewed by workers to ascertain that an embodiment is in working order. Operation is very simple but highly effective and reliable.
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly first to
Support frame 20 may also be located at a lower position in vertical flow path 22 if desired and may be provided at a selected distance from surface 26 as deemed most desirable, e.g. as a non-limiting example support frame 20 could be mounted within one to three feet from surface 26 with the distance selected based the level of water in the chamber at which it would be desirable to prevent flow upward therethrough for a particular area surrounding the storm water drain or storm water drains which may comprise storm water drain system 10.
Support frame 20 may be comprised of steel, and, as depicted in
In one possible embodiment of the present invention, upper support frame 21 or unitary H-frame 23 may also provide a seat(s) or opening(s) adapted to receive and support one or more various types of a storm water inlet 15. Support frame 21 or 23 may also utilize one or more flanges or braces 32 to support seat 34 which surrounds fluid flow passageway 36 through seat 34, discussed hereinafter. In the case where the chamber volume is much larger than flow path 22 or inlet 14, support frame 21 or 23 may not contact lower chamber walls at larger regions in chamber 12 but instead be supported by upper surface walls which lead into chamber 12.
In the views of FIG. 1–
In a preferred embodiment, buoyant door assembly 18 comprises sealed air or foam or honeycomb sections or compartments 38 defined therein. Compartments 38 are sufficiently large and sealed or preferably filled with materials such as foam plastic or the like so that, when water rises within chamber 12, buoyant door assembly 18 will float upwardly due to the buoyant force acting on buoyant door assembly 18. If desired, external float elements could also be mounted to buoyant door assembly 18. Alternatively, separate float elements may be mounted on frames or within guides designed so that when the float elements float upwardly they directly engage and/or interact with pulleys, gears, chains, or the like to operate door assembly 18.
If desired, buoyant door assembly 18 may comprise door bumper or stop 40 which limits downward travel of buoyant door assembly 18. Stop 40 may be comprised of suitable material which does not damage the walls of chamber 12. Stop 40 may be of any desired shape or size and may or may not be utilized, as desired. As well, one or more lifting lug and/or latches 42 may be provided on buoyant door assembly 18. Lifting lug or latch 42 may comprise suitable connectors to help lift the assembly into position. As well, if desired for any reason, lifting lug or latch may be utilized to latch buoyant door assembly 18 in a closed position such as by using cable, or rods, or the like (not shown).
Seat 34 may preferably be mounted horizontally or substantially horizontally on or integral with support frame 20 or 23 and may preferably comprise compression gasket seal 35 or any other suitable type of seal in surrounding relationship with fluid flow passageway 36 through seat 34. Seat 34 may be integral with support frame 20 or 23 or be a separate component or assembly mounted thereto. The seal for seat 34 should be of a type that provides good sealing when buoyant door assembly 18 is urged against seat 34 as indicated in
While the present invention conveniently provides an all-in-one support frame assembly to permit simultaneous installation of storm system 10, buoyant door assembly 18 and seat 34 may also comprise separate components which could be anchored within chamber 12 as desired either during construction of the chamber or after the chamber has already been installed.
In operation of storm system 10, buoyant door assembly 18 is normally open when flood water as indicated at 54 is low or absent. As flood waters begin to rise as indicated by level 56 and arrow of water rise 62 in
In yet another possible embodiment of the present invention, one or more position sensors which sense a position of buoyant door assembly 18 may be utilized. For instance, position sensors may be mounted at position 44 around seat 34 to indicate when buoyant door assembly 18 has closed. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more sensors may be utilized at position 46 as a non-limiting example to indicate that the buoyant door assembly is completely open. Alternatively, or in addition, tilt sensors, or the like, may be utilized at some convenient position, e.g. position 48 on buoyant door assembly 18, to indicate a level or more precise position of buoyant door assembly 18 so as to provide a level of the water within chamber 12. The sensors may then connect through wire 52 or wireless or other communication system means to various elements 50 as may be advantageous for utilizing information about rising water in chamber 12. Alternatively or in addition, a flag or sign (not shown) on a flexible pole (not shown) could be mounted therein which would be vertically lifted through inlet 16 as bouyant door assembly moves upwardly to provide a manual visual indication of the flood status which could be viewed from a distance and/or to provide a warning to motorists on a road containing storm drains 10. Element 50 may represent any of many of devices which might advantageously use or display such information such as signs, displays, or moveable street barriers such as arms which operate in response to flood information. For instance, element 50 may comprise a display at a central flood command center. Element 50 may also comprise an automatic arm or flashing signal to block or warn automobile traffic from entering a street, underpass, or area where flooding may be imminent as indicated by a shut door assembly.
The drawings are intended to describe the concepts of the invention so that the presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be plainly disclosed to one of skill in the art, but the drawings are not intended to be renditions of finalized product designs and may include simplified conceptual views as desired for easier and quicker understanding or explanation of the invention. It will be seen that various changes and alternatives may be used that are contained within the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it will be understood that various directions such as “upper,” “lower,” “bottom,” “top,” “left,” “right,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” and so forth are made only with respect to easier explanation in conjunction with the drawings and that the components may be oriented differently, for instance, during transportation and manufacturing as well as operation. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6062767 | Kizhnerman et al. | May 2000 | A |
